Thank you so much for your videos. I've learned more from you than from my supervisor. After six years of struggling, abandoned by my school and by my supervisors I have a lot of notes and readings but a very few actual work done. Feeling miserable and struggling in other areas of life just as you said the thought of giving up crossed my mind a few times. Your video reforced my resolve to do it no matter what. I will in debt and probably die trying to do it. But I wil do it. I will never give up. Thank you.
The PhD isn't worth dying for... It's OK to decide to keep going, but something will have to change if you want to ever finish. You say you have notes and readings but little actual work done, so have you started your actual research?
@@James_Hayton thank you very much for your reply. I'm trying to aply your lessons in my work. As you said something have to change. My PhD is in the area of the humanities, so my research relates to reading and analysing texts and not to do experimentations. I belive I read everything I need and I have a lot of citations and notes. I only have to write it but I'm afraid I wrote too much in some topics and almost nothing on others. I tend to be too curious and keep reasearching infinitly, but I learn't from your other video to refraing from that. I stopped reading and started actually writing from my own notes and from the citations I got from my reading. But I found I still tend to make long texts about a single topic which I think take my time from the overall writing of the thesis. After watching your video I decided to keep going, and focusing in limite the amount of citations I use for each topic. I always feel afraid of missing something or leting something out. I feel I am traveling alone in a desert not sure if I will ever find an Oasis. Anyway, I don't want to bore you. I know you're a busy person. I just wanted to thank you, your videos means a lot. Best videos on youtube for PhD students. Thank you.
Very helpful! PhD students often feel so overwhelmed by the workload/self-discovery/plus life that is true. Your videos remind me of the importance of keeping calm (acknowledging that it can be difficult) and doing one thing at a time. Thank you!
Cheers. This all sounds obvious and common-sensical, but... it is so easy to forget. This is a great reminder to get back to first principles and the groundings of life, from which we thrust. All else, becomes a joy.
Thanks a lot for this video and all the advices you gave. I really struggle with writing at the moment, can’t motivate myself to start. But the thing is I do not want to quit, but can’t keep going the same time. Stuck in procrastination, doubt my abilities and beat myself up every day for doing nothing. I guess if I let the pressure go I will take it easy and even enjoy writing. I started my PhD in 2016. This is how bad the situation is.
Maybe try doing 90 minutes writing in the morning (before doing anything else, before coffee). No guarantees it'll work, but it's much easier than trying to write once you've started doing other things
I followed your advice this morning and it worked! I managed to write a few sentences and move a few paragraphs around. I found that the biggest obstruction for me is my phone with social media in the morning. Thank you very much for your support.
WELP! Already did a month ago 😅 But I want to thank you for providing SO, SO much helpful info & for the online resources (including your course!) During my 1st year, I sought an ADHD & learning disability. I burned out being too hypervigilant & wasn't lucky enough to get through the dysfunctions (mostly external). However, I hope to utilize your strategies in my next ventures after I've recovered! I've already used some recently to get through a research conference presentation 👍🏽
9:24 sense of self-worth 11:15 took the pressure off without worrying about the end result 12:30 maintain it by keeping others down (about some supervisors) 15:27 simplify
Could you make a video for students doing masters considering doing a phd? My advisor is trying to convince me to switch my masters to be a phd student. She and I have a great relationship and work together really well. But she is just starting and I’m also helping her build her lab and get to see all she does. She thinks I should stay because I already have two projects and it would not make sense to put all this work and only get a masters. But I’m not really sure because I never intended to do a phd (Not even a masters actually), I don’t quite enjoy the environment (sometimes it feels like when I have to work with other students from other groups they are always stressed and often act like everyone who needs their help are interruptions to themselves), I also want to get married and don’t want my family to put pressure of me to wait until my phd because I’m already waiting for my masters.
Hi James, thank you for the video. I've been considering this question for a while and not quite getting the answer yet. I'm in the middle of my PhD program, 2 years in but haven't started anything related to my dissertation nor had a meeting with the committee. FYI, I'm the first PhD student of my PI and also an international student. There are many pending questions: 1) I'm okay with doing research, not super interested nor passionate about it though, 2) I'm not sure if I need a PhD for my career (because I'm not sure yet where I'm headed); 3) I'm not sure if I want to continue working with my PI (he is a great guy but doesn't prioritize his career); and 4) I want to take a break for a year to contemplate about my career path. I know that I need to talk to my PI about this issue. I'm curious what your thoughts on this.
If you're going to stay, try to get started doing something for your dissertation research (and talk to your committee or do whatever you can to get started) as soon as possible. If you're not working towards your dissertation, what's happened to get in the way?
Walking away doesn't always remove the power the supervisor has ... some supervisors are so inappropriately bad that they'll pursue you after you leave, intentionally damaging your future prospects.
@@James_Hayton I would not have made the comment if I did not have first hand experience with it. Yes. Supervisors can be vindictive and inappropriately cruel. Yes, it was reported to the university. Did they do anything about it? No. Universities do everything possible to absolve themselves of responsibility. Is that professor still employed by that university, No. Is it illegal, yes. Is the power structure not in favor of the student in a vulnerable position, yes. Does anyone care? I sincerely doubt it. Academia is driven by exploitation and lack of accountability. And they hope you are too afraid to speak up - or worse, they hope no one believes you.
@James_Hayton his words were very specifically: "When I say you are done, you are done. " ... that means that he wanted to do everything in his power to destroy my prospects. And when the supervisor is more widely recognized than their student... it makes it very easy to cause such harm.
So sorry you went through that. I wish I had advice that could help, other than to say to others to get out as soon as possible if they're in that kind of situation
After my masters I went to the industry and now I’m back at the PhD full time, but haven’t left my full time job. I don’t want to. Letting go of that financial stability is a privilege I can’t afford. But it’s weighting too much, now with the coursework. I feel depressed and without time or energy to do anything else. I expect it will get better once I’m only focusing on research but I’m not sure. Any advice, James?
Could you go part time with either the job or the PhD? It's hard enough when you're just doing one or the other but if you're doing both it's not surprising if you're struggling! How long does the coursework last in your PhD program and how much more do you have to do the get to the research part?
@@James_Hayton Thanks for replying. The coursework would be until december, after that I think it's only research. The thing is I thought I could just push through december, but I'm already burned out. :( Today I didn't even want to present an exam, I don't find the energy or motivation anymore... Sounds like that's my answer but it's hard still to decide.
My PhD programme is over and now the dissertation writing is all up to me. I have some papers that can be turned into a dissertation, but I want to get some additional results and make a reproduction. I refuse to defend without them. I have also started a new job with new research projects. I also want to study something new and maybe change my field of study. Am I a dreamer? My therapist says that I have ADHD.
Why refuse to defend without them? It seems like you're setting an impossible standard for yourself, given that you've started a new job and probably won't have time to get new results. Are you afraid of submitting?
@@James_Hayton I think that there's not enough good results to describe in the thesis and present at the defence. Also my work looks like good master thesis than a PhD dissertation
@@James_Hayton I know that my arguments are not reasonable and PhD isn't about results, it's about demonstrating skills. But I can't force myself to like my current state.
Not exactly. Of course you can suffer in a job. My point was that my situation at the time felt so bad that I had to change something. Bear in mind I was having a minor breakdown at the time.
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Thank you so much for your videos. I've learned more from you than from my supervisor. After six years of struggling, abandoned by my school and by my supervisors I have a lot of notes and readings but a very few actual work done. Feeling miserable and struggling in other areas of life just as you said the thought of giving up crossed my mind a few times. Your video reforced my resolve to do it no matter what. I will in debt and probably die trying to do it. But I wil do it. I will never give up. Thank you.
The PhD isn't worth dying for... It's OK to decide to keep going, but something will have to change if you want to ever finish. You say you have notes and readings but little actual work done, so have you started your actual research?
@@James_Hayton thank you very much for your reply. I'm trying to aply your lessons in my work. As you said something have to change. My PhD is in the area of the humanities, so my research relates to reading and analysing texts and not to do experimentations. I belive I read everything I need and I have a lot of citations and notes. I only have to write it but I'm afraid I wrote too much in some topics and almost nothing on others. I tend to be too curious and keep reasearching infinitly, but I learn't from your other video to refraing from that. I stopped reading and started actually writing from my own notes and from the citations I got from my reading. But I found I still tend to make long texts about a single topic which I think take my time from the overall writing of the thesis. After watching your video I decided to keep going, and focusing in limite the amount of citations I use for each topic. I always feel afraid of missing something or leting something out. I feel I am traveling alone in a desert not sure if I will ever find an Oasis. Anyway, I don't want to bore you. I know you're a busy person. I just wanted to thank you, your videos means a lot. Best videos on youtube for PhD students. Thank you.
Very helpful! PhD students often feel so overwhelmed by the workload/self-discovery/plus life that is true. Your videos remind me of the importance of keeping calm (acknowledging that it can be difficult) and doing one thing at a time. Thank you!
Cheers. This all sounds obvious and common-sensical, but... it is so easy to forget. This is a great reminder to get back to first principles and the groundings of life, from which we thrust. All else, becomes a joy.
Thank you so much this has helped me to clarify my mind in these dark times
Thanks a lot for this video and all the advices you gave. I really struggle with writing at the moment, can’t motivate myself to start. But the thing is I do not want to quit, but can’t keep going the same time. Stuck in procrastination, doubt my abilities and beat myself up every day for doing nothing.
I guess if I let the pressure go I will take it easy and even enjoy writing. I started my PhD in 2016. This is how bad the situation is.
Maybe try doing 90 minutes writing in the morning (before doing anything else, before coffee). No guarantees it'll work, but it's much easier than trying to write once you've started doing other things
I followed your advice this morning and it worked! I managed to write a few sentences and move a few paragraphs around.
I found that the biggest obstruction for me is my phone with social media in the morning.
Thank you very much for your support.
Try using some app blocking software on your phone. I use Freedom and another program called Cold Turkey on my laptop
WELP! Already did a month ago 😅 But I want to thank you for providing SO, SO much helpful info & for the online resources (including your course!)
During my 1st year, I sought an ADHD & learning disability. I burned out being too hypervigilant & wasn't lucky enough to get through the dysfunctions (mostly external).
However, I hope to utilize your strategies in my next ventures after I've recovered! I've already used some recently to get through a research conference presentation 👍🏽
9:24 sense of self-worth
11:15 took the pressure off without worrying about the end result
12:30 maintain it by keeping others down (about some supervisors)
15:27 simplify
Thank you so much James
Interesting stuff. I thought the frustrations along the academic ladder only happen in Africa! Now I know.
check out r/phd on reddit and you'll see plenty of frustration worldwide! What specific problems are you facing?
Thank you!
Could you make a video for students doing masters considering doing a phd? My advisor is trying to convince me to switch my masters to be a phd student. She and I have a great relationship and work together really well. But she is just starting and I’m also helping her build her lab and get to see all she does. She thinks I should stay because I already have two projects and it would not make sense to put all this work and only get a masters.
But I’m not really sure because I never intended to do a phd (Not even a masters actually), I don’t quite enjoy the environment (sometimes it feels like when I have to work with other students from other groups they are always stressed and often act like everyone who needs their help are interruptions to themselves), I also want to get married and don’t want my family to put pressure of me to wait until my phd because I’m already waiting for my masters.
If you don't really want to do it, don't do it. Unless you really love the work or need it for your career, I'd just take the masters!
Hi James, thank you for the video. I've been considering this question for a while and not quite getting the answer yet. I'm in the middle of my PhD program, 2 years in but haven't started anything related to my dissertation nor had a meeting with the committee. FYI, I'm the first PhD student of my PI and also an international student. There are many pending questions: 1) I'm okay with doing research, not super interested nor passionate about it though, 2) I'm not sure if I need a PhD for my career (because I'm not sure yet where I'm headed); 3) I'm not sure if I want to continue working with my PI (he is a great guy but doesn't prioritize his career); and 4) I want to take a break for a year to contemplate about my career path. I know that I need to talk to my PI about this issue. I'm curious what your thoughts on this.
If you're going to stay, try to get started doing something for your dissertation research (and talk to your committee or do whatever you can to get started) as soon as possible. If you're not working towards your dissertation, what's happened to get in the way?
Walking away doesn't always remove the power the supervisor has ... some supervisors are so inappropriately bad that they'll pursue you after you leave, intentionally damaging your future prospects.
Did this happen to you?
@@James_Hayton I would not have made the comment if I did not have first hand experience with it. Yes. Supervisors can be vindictive and inappropriately cruel. Yes, it was reported to the university. Did they do anything about it? No. Universities do everything possible to absolve themselves of responsibility. Is that professor still employed by that university, No. Is it illegal, yes. Is the power structure not in favor of the student in a vulnerable position, yes. Does anyone care? I sincerely doubt it. Academia is driven by exploitation and lack of accountability. And they hope you are too afraid to speak up - or worse, they hope no one believes you.
@James_Hayton his words were very specifically: "When I say you are done, you are done. " ... that means that he wanted to do everything in his power to destroy my prospects.
And when the supervisor is more widely recognized than their student... it makes it very easy to cause such harm.
So sorry you went through that. I wish I had advice that could help, other than to say to others to get out as soon as possible if they're in that kind of situation
@@James_Hayton too much is built into the "prestige " of the PHD with too little protections.
After my masters I went to the industry and now I’m back at the PhD full time, but haven’t left my full time job. I don’t want to. Letting go of that financial stability is a privilege I can’t afford. But it’s weighting too much, now with the coursework. I feel depressed and without time or energy to do anything else. I expect it will get better once I’m only focusing on research but I’m not sure. Any advice, James?
Could you go part time with either the job or the PhD? It's hard enough when you're just doing one or the other but if you're doing both it's not surprising if you're struggling!
How long does the coursework last in your PhD program and how much more do you have to do the get to the research part?
@@James_Hayton Thanks for replying. The coursework would be until december, after that I think it's only research. The thing is I thought I could just push through december, but I'm already burned out. :( Today I didn't even want to present an exam, I don't find the energy or motivation anymore... Sounds like that's my answer but it's hard still to decide.
you look very fit 💪
My PhD programme is over and now the dissertation writing is all up to me. I have some papers that can be turned into a dissertation, but I want to get some additional results and make a reproduction. I refuse to defend without them. I have also started a new job with new research projects. I also want to study something new and maybe change my field of study. Am I a dreamer? My therapist says that I have ADHD.
Why refuse to defend without them? It seems like you're setting an impossible standard for yourself, given that you've started a new job and probably won't have time to get new results. Are you afraid of submitting?
@@James_Hayton I think that there's not enough good results to describe in the thesis and present at the defence. Also my work looks like good master thesis than a PhD dissertation
@@James_Hayton I know that my arguments are not reasonable and PhD isn't about results, it's about demonstrating skills. But I can't force myself to like my current state.
What has your supervisor said? If you have published papers in peer reviewed journals it should be enough for a PhD
@@James_Hayton 3 peer reviewed papers at conferences, which is ok for data science. Superviser says write and defend thesis.
Not as bad as the phd, 😂 , so young , so naive
I was young and naive! I was 22 when I started my PhD
@@James_Hayton did you think that a job couldn't be worse than a phd?
Not exactly. Of course you can suffer in a job. My point was that my situation at the time felt so bad that I had to change something. Bear in mind I was having a minor breakdown at the time.